Electrical bingo game board



April 8, 1952 B. c. QUIMBY 2,591,869

ELECTRICAL BINGO GAME BOARD- Filed April 17, 1950 2 Sl-IEETS -Si'EE'I 1 .1. INVENTOR. BUZZ c. QUIMBY ATTORNEY April 8, 1952 a. c. QUIMBY ELECTRICAL BINGO GAME BOARD 2 SHEETS-SHEE'Z 2 Filed April 17, 1950 INVENTOR.

BUZZ G. QUIMBY ATTORN EY Patented Apr. 8, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE ELECTRICAL BINGO GAME BOARD Buzz C. Quimby, Portland, Orcg.

Application April 17, 1950, Serial No. 156,318

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to electric game apparatus adapted for the playing of the familiar game of Bingo or the like.

More specifically this invention relates to a game assembly in which any number of separate, individual game boards, connected to a suitable source of electrical current, may be employed, each board having open sockets arranged in similar formation, but bearing variously arranged numbers, and the sockets being adapted for the insertion thereof or player pieces or plugs as the corresponding numbers are called, each socket having several open switch contacts which are closed by the insertion of the plug in the socket.

An object of the invention is to provide an electric assembly for the playing of a game of the nature above mentioned which may include any desired number of individual game boards, all of similar construction and each of which is played in the same manner by an individual player when connected to the common source of electric current.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved electrical game assembly consisting of a number of entirely separate but similar game boards each having the same number of open sockets similarly arranged but differently numbered and adapted for the insertion of plugs or similar player pieces therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved game board having electrical sockets constituting open switches capable of being closed by the insertion of player pieces in the sockets, but which game board and sockets will be of very simple and inexpensive construction, capable of giving long time use Without requiring any particular upkeep.

The manner in which these objects are attained, the manner in which the individual boards are employed in the complete apparatus, and the manner in which each individual board is constructed, will be readily understood from the following brief description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one of the game boards of my apparatus with a portion of the top deck broken away to show the underlying sockets;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan section of the same game board taken just above the base plate of the board;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section onthe line 3--3 of Fig. 1, but drawn to a larger scale, and showing one of the sockets of the board and illustrating a player piece or plug about to be inserted in such socket;

Fig. 4 is a similar vertical section of the same socket but showing the plug inserted in the socket;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the game board of Figs; 1 and 2; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view, more or less diagrammatic, illustrating four of the individual game boards and signal boxes connected up and arranged on the playing table.

Since the individual game boards are identical, except for the arrangement of the numerical notations on the decks of the same, as later explained, it will suffice to describe the construction and operation of one of the game boards. Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the game board consists of a square box-like structure, having four side Walls, such as the side wall 10, a top deck H, and a base plate H. The top deck l I has a number of holes l3 of identical size symmetrically arranged in row formations, the number of holes in each row being the same as the number of rows and the general arrangement preferably resembling that shown in Fig. 1.

A main inside body portion [4 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4), formed preferably from a block of wood, plastic, composite material, or layers of any other suitable material, is mounted within the square box-like outer structure, secured to the four side walls, but spaced below the top deck I I and above the base plate l2, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Cylindrical channels l5, of slightly greater diameter than the holes 13, having their axes in vertical alignment respectively to the centers of the holes I 3, are provided in the body portion [4.

A number of metal electrical conductor strips aresecured to the bottom face of the body 14 and extended to and between the cylindrical channels l5 in the formation and arrangement shown in Fig. 2. Two separate main conductor strips, [5 and i! (Fig. 2), each extend around two of the sides Of the bottom face of the body It and these are connected at one end to the conductor wires 18 and I9 respectively. Branch conductor strips 20 and 2| extend from the main conductor strips l6 and of each cylindrical channel nal ends of the conductor strips.

each of these adjacent or border cylindrical channels except in the cases of the four cylindrical channels located at the four corners of the board respectively.

In the case of these four corner cylindrical channels there are three branch strips extending to each. Furthermore it will be noted from Fig. 2 that in the case of the three branch strips which extend to each of these corner cylindrical channels, the channel shown in the upper left hand corner of Fig. 2 has three branch strips 20 extending from the main strip Hi; the channel in the lower right hand corner in Fig. 2 has three branch strips extending from the main strip H; the cylindrical channel in the upper right hand corner of Fig. 2 has two branch strips extending from the main strip l6 and one branch strip extending from the main strip ll; while the fourth corner cylindrical channel in the lower left hand corner of Fig. 2 has two branch strips extending from main strip l1 and one branch strip from main strip 16. such arrangement will be apparent presently.

The cylindrical channels 15 are symmetrically arranged in parallel rows which extend in one direction. For example, as shown in Fig. 2, there may be five horizontal rows and the channels will also form the same number of parallel rows extending at right angles with the first mentioned rows, and thus form the same number of five rows appearing vertically in Fig. 2, there being always the same number of cylindrical channels in each row. Furthermore, as apparent, there is a diagonally extending row of the same number of cylindrical channels extending from the upper left hand corner of Fig. 2 to the lower right hand corner, and a corresponding diagonal row of the same number of cylindrical channels extending in the opposite direction.

Intermediate conductor strips 23 extend in each row between each pair of consecutive cylindrical channels. Thus, as viewed in Fig.

2, these intermediate strips 23 connect the cylindrical channels in horizontal rows, in vertical rows. and in the two diagonal rows above mentioned. Each end of each intermediate strip 23 extends up into a cylindrical channel a 'short distance and is secured to the adjacentv wall of the channel, as indicated at 24 in Figs. 3 and i. Consequently in the lower portion l5 there are a plurality of pairs of diagonally opposite termi- By electrically connecting the corresponding pair of such terminal ends in the cylindrical channels of any row, the circuit can be closed between the two main conductor strips I6 and IT.

A plurality of pairs of spring contact members 25 (Fig. 3) are positioned in the cylindrical channels corresponding to the pairs of terminal ends in the bottoms of the channels. The upper ends of these spring contact members 25 are attached to the top face of the main body portion l4 of the game board substantially in vertical alignmentwith a portion of the corresponding conductor strips on the bottom face of the body M. The spring contact members 25 then extend downwardly into the cylindrical channels l5 and are normally The reasons for.

4 terminal ends of the related and corresponding bottom conductor strips. The upper ends of each pair of these diametrically opposite spring members 25 are connected by a conductor wire 21 (see also Fig. 1).

Player pieces or plugs 28 are used with the game board. Such a player piece or plug is shown in full in Fig. 4 and comprises a cylindrical stem having an outside diameter somewhat less than the diameter of the cylindrical channels I5, and preferably, though not necessarily, having an enlarged head 29 to facilitate the holding of the plug in the fingers of the player. The plugs 28 are made of Wood, plastic, or any other suitable non-conducting material and may be solid or hollow.

From the description thus far and from Figs. 3 and 4 it will be apparent that when a plug 28 is inserted in a cylindrical channel [5, the pairs of spring contact members 25 in that cylindrical channel will be temporarily pushed outwardly radially and brought into contact with the corresponding terminal ends of the conductor strips at the bottom of the channel. Thus the result is to cause each pair of diametrically opposite terminal ends at the bottom of the channel to become temporarily connected by electrically conductive elements. It will be clear now from Figs. 1 and 2 that if plugs are inserted in the five cylindrical channels in any of the rows, for example, in the five cylindrical channels of. any horizontal row, or vertical row (as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2) or in either of the two diagonal rows extending between opposite corners of the board, the circuit of the wires I8 and I9 will be closed.

For each game board used in the game a signal box 30 (Figs. 5 and 6) is provided. Each, signal box 30 is connected by means of a pair of branch wires 3| and 32 (diagrammatically shown in Fig. 6) to the two main conductor wires 33 and 34 of my game apparatus. The two branch wires 3| and 32 in each signal box 30 lead to a socket which in turn accommodates an ordinary electric plug 35 to which the wires l8 and I9 (Fig. 2) of the game board are connected. A signal light 36, mounted on the signal box 30, is interposed in the line of one of the branch wires, for instance in the conductor wire 3 I. Consequently when a game board is plugged in to a signal box and the circuit through the Wires [8 and I9 (Fig. 2) of the game board is closed in the manner previously described, the signal light 36 of the signal box will be lighted. Other electrically operated signal means might be substituted in place of the light 36 but I consider a signal light preferable.

My entire electric game assembly includes a suitable table of any desired size, indicated in part at 31 in Fig. 6 having two main conductor wires 33 and 34 connected to any suitable source of electric current (not shown) and having signal boxes 30 connected to the main conductor wires at spaced distances on the table to accommodate any desired number of game boards. Each player is given a game board and a supply of player pieces or plugs 28 which are deposited on the table at the side of the game board.

On the top deck each game board carries numerical notations for the holes above the cylindrical channels. The numbers in these numerical notations do not follow any particular sequence and the arrangement of such numbers differs with each game board as previously mentioned. The table 3'! is supplied with a window 38 through which one number at a time is made to appear. This may be done by having numbers carried on an endless belt driven intermittently for irregular intervals, or by having such numbers mounted on the periphery of a wheel adapted to be spun by the operator in charge of the game, or by any other suitable means. This portion of the assembly is not shown since it does not constitute a part of the present invention. As each number appears in the window 38 the players who have that number marked on their game board insert a plug 28 in the corresponding hole in the board. The player whose signal light 313 is first lighted Wins the play.

I claim:

1. An electric game apparatus assembly including a game board, a plurality of downwardly-extending cylindrical channels in said game board arranged in special row formations suitable for the playing of a game of the Bingo type, a plurality of pairs of spring contact members extending downwardly into each channel, the members of each pair being arranged diametrically opposite each other in the channel, the upper ends of said members secured in place at the upper ends of said channels, the members of each pair electrically connected together at their secured upper ends, the lower ends of said members normally spaced inwardly a slight distance from and out of contact with the channel walls near the bottoms of said channels, terminals mounted in said channel walls near the bottoms of said channels in alignment with the upper ends of said spring members respectively, electric conductor elements extending between said channels at their bottom ends in accordance with said row formations and joined to said terminals, a pair of main conductors extending around said game board, branches from said main conductors extending to a terminal in the end channels of each row formation respectively, plunger plugs placable in said chan nels for thrusting the bottom ends of said spring members into contact with the respective terminals, whereby to close the circuit between said main conductors through a row formation, means for connecting said main conductors to a source of electric current, and an electric indicator in the circuit of said main conductors actuated by the closing of said main conductor circuit.

2. An electric game apparatus assembly including a game board, said board having a top deck, a plurality of openings in said deck arranged in special row formations suitable for the playing of a game of the Bingo type, a body portion in said game board located below said deck, a plurality of downwardly-extending channels in said body portion in registration with said deck openings respectively, a plurality of pairs of spring contact members extending downwardly into each channel, the members of each pair being arranged directly opposite each other in the channel, the upper ends of said members secured in place at the upper ends of said channels, the members of each pair electrically connected together at their secured upper ends, the lower ends of said members normally spaced inwardly a slight distance from, and out of contact with, the channel walls near the bottoms of said channels, terminals mounted in said channel Walls near the bottoms of said channels in alignment with the upper ends of said spring members respectively, electric conductor elements extending between said channels at their bottom ends in accordance with said row formations and joined to said terminals, a pair of main conductors extending around said game board, branches from said main conductors extending to a terminal in the end channels or" each row formation respectively, plunger plugs placable in said deck openings and channels for thrusting the bottom ends of said spring members into contact with the respective terminals, whereby to close the cir uit between said main conductors through a row formation, means for connecting said main conductors to a source of electric current, and an electric indicator in the circuit of said main conductors actuated by the closing of said main conductor circuit.

3. An electric game apparatus assembly including a game board, said board having a top deck, a plurality of circular openings in said deck arranged in special row formations suitable for the playing of a game of the Bingo type, a body portion in said game board located below said deck, a plurality of downwardly-extending cylindrical channels in said body portion of larger diameter than said deck openings and in axial alignment with said openings, a plurality of pairs of spring contact members extending downwardly into each channel, the members of each pair being arranged diametrically opposite each other in the channel, the upper ends of said members secured in place at the upper ends of said channels, the members of each pair electrically connected together at their secured upper ends, the lower ends of said members normally spaced inwardly a slight distance from, and out of contact with, the channel walls near the bottoms of said channels, terminals mounted in said channel walls near the bottoms of said channels in alignment with the upper ends of said spring members respectively, electric conductor elements extending between said channels at their bottom ends in accordance with said row formations and joined to said terminals, a pair of main conductors extending around said game board in opposite directions, each main conductor extending approximately half way around the game board, branches from said main conductors extending to a terminal in the end channels of each row formation respectively, plunger plugs placable in said deck openings and channels for thrusting the bottom ends of said spring members into contact with the respective terminals, whereby to close the circuit between said main conductors through a row formation, means for connecting said main conductors to a source of electric current, and an electric indicator in the circuit of said main conductors actuated by the closing of said main conductor circuit.

Buzz 0. QUIMBY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA In, NTS

Number Name Date 1,614,471 Hayasli Jan. 18, 1927 1,655,380 Parker Jan. 3, 1928 1,678,573 Nakashima July 24, 1928 1,954,305 Williams Apr. 10, 1934 2,130,123 Ebert Sept. 13, 1938 2,187,023 Forsman Jan. 16, 1940 2,333,002 Goloborodko Oct. 26, 1943 

